OMM Redaksiyası
Members of Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis (National Assembly) and representatives of several non-governmental organizations have sent a letter to US senators and members of the House of Representatives. The appeal was issued in response to a letter about Azerbaijan circulated on Oct. 5.
The Azerbaijani signatories said they support dialogue with the US Congress and consider lasting peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia a shared goal. At the same time, they said some claims in the US lawmakers’ letter, in their view, failed to take important historical and legal context into account and could complicate progress in the peace process.
The appeal also addressed the consequences of the conflict for Azerbaijan. The signatories said more than 1 million people had been displaced, the fate of 4,010 Azerbaijanis remained unknown, and 613 civilians were killed in the Khojaly massacre.
They said the threat posed by mines and unexploded ordnance persists, noting that more than 440 Azerbaijanis had been affected by mine incidents since 2020. They called on US lawmakers to support humanitarian demining and efforts to determine the fate of missing persons.
Washington summit described as key milestone in peace process
The letter said Azerbaijan was pursuing peace, normalization and regional economic integration. It described the Washington Peace Summit held on Aug. 8, 2025, as a significant milestone.
In the signatories’ view, the Joint Declaration signed in the presence of US President Donald Trump and the initialing of the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace agreement opened new opportunities for cooperation. The letter presented increased trade between the two countries and the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP) as an opportunity to expand regional connectivity.
The signatories praised Trump’s role in advancing the peace process and called on Congress to support the implementation of the agreements reached.
Detained individuals and border issues
Azerbaijani lawmakers and NGO representatives objected to some detained individuals being described as “political and military leaders.” The letter said those individuals had held senior positions in an illegal separatist structure operating on Azerbaijan’s territory and were on trial for serious crimes, including war crimes.
The signatories said the defendants had access to legal representation and that the courts examined evidence and witness testimony before issuing their verdicts. They urged US lawmakers to respect Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and judicial institutions while recognizing the importance of due process.
The letter also disputed the presentation of approximately 241 square kilometers as Armenian territory under Azerbaijani occupation. The signatories said Azerbaijan recognized Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, adding that sections of the international border that have not been agreed upon should be addressed through bilateral delimitation and demarcation.
On cultural heritage, the letter called for a universal and non-discriminatory approach. The signatories said assessments should also account for the destruction and desecration of Azerbaijani mosques, cemeteries, shrines and historical monuments in formerly occupied territories and in Armenia.
The letter also called for the complete repeal of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act. The signatories said the provision no longer reflected the current situation in the region or relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and that repealing it would strengthen US-Azerbaijan ties and demonstrate congressional support for peace and regional cooperation.
The appeal concluded by urging US lawmakers to support the progress made since the Washington summit and to allow the remaining humanitarian, legal, political and practical issues to be resolved through direct engagement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
